October 26_ Jewish Museum Berlin, DZ Bankhouse, Berlin Hauptbanhof and Berlin Concert Hall

Jewish Museum Berlin, Judisches Museum Berlin

Designed by Daniel Libeskind

The Paris 2010 group were greeted by a guide who gave them an in depth tour of the architecture inside and outside. The building is zinc-paneled and is has a strong connection between the museum’s themes and its architecture. Libeskind named his design “Between the Lines,” a title which reflects the tensions of German-Jewish history.  The windows on the facade represent a abstracted map of the Jewish communities in Berlin. Inscribed with in the design of the building, the past takes shape along tow lines, charting various cultural connections and modes of thoughts: one is straight yet broken in fragments, and the other is winding and upon ended. The intersections of these lines are marked by voids and empty spaces that cut through the entire museum.

DZ Bankhouse Building

Designed by Frank Gehry

This unique and innovated space is normally inaccessible to the public, but we were able to get a guided tour by Ms. Elk Neumann-Hoech in the Administration Department.  This ultra modern building is located next to the historical Brandenburg Gate, which brings up the idea of contradiction. Gehry’s design of the Bank building thrives off the concept of contrasts. The facade that looks over the plaza in of the gate is simple, formal and rectaliniear. This formal pattern continues inside to the offices and walkways, but then is filled with organic whale-like form, which houses a conference space inside.

Berlin Central Station, DB Berlin Hauptbanhof

Designed by Mienhard von Gerkan

The group was welcomed by Ms. Ulkrike Seidenfaden, Deutch Banh AG, International Relations. She gave us a guided tour of the newest transit hub in Berlin and then gave us a presentation on the architecture and the history of the rail system in Berlin.

Berlin Concert Hall, Konzerthaus Berlin

Designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel

The Concert Hall is one of Schinkel’s Masterpiece. Until recently, it was known as Schauspielhaus (theatre). The building has a portico with Ionic columns and a large number of Statues of allegorical and historical personages, some riding lions and panthers, as well as deities muses and bacchants. No visit to Berlin is complete until you see a Schinkel building!